In this article, I seek to provide a systematic record of the historical trajectory of the inclusion of accidents and violence as a legitimate issue of the health area. It will be shown that the process is not concluded, and that it is going on under the pressure of actors and by force of the circumstances. In the beginning, the issue finds a restricted space in the health agenda through the concepts "accidents, injuries and traumas". Since the second half of the 20th century, the rights of different social subjects are incorporated, ranging from observation and notification of violent acts against children,women, the elderly, to the discussion of social violence in its broadest sense, affecting the health of populations. In Brazil, this doubtlessly slow and intermittent process shows some attempts and a pioneer action of the Ministry of Health, carried out in cooperation with and under pressure of social, academic and professional movements: a diagnosis of morbidity and mortality from all kinds of violence, documenting a national policy towards reduction of accidents and violence on national level.